Leaf Canada – Advisory Meeting

LEAF Canada – First Advisory Meeting

Minutes & Declaration

Date: March 27, 2026

Opening Remarks

Good evening everyone,

First of all, sincere thanks to all participants for your presence, time, and thoughtful contributions to the first advisory meeting of Lumina Earth Alliance Foundation (LEAF Canada).

This meeting marks more than a formal gathering, it represents the beginning of a shared vision and collective journey.

Core Vision of LEAF

The discussions throughout the meeting highlighted the three foundational values of LEAF:

• People
• Planet
• Peace

These guiding principles will shape the organization’s direction and long-term impact.

Introduction & Chairperson’s Address

The session began with a warm welcome and an introduction to the purpose of the advisory meeting.

This was followed by the Chairperson’s address, outlining LEAF’s broader vision as a nonprofit organization focused on meaningful contributions in areas such as:

• Community support
• Language and education
• Agriculture and environment
• Public awareness
• Peace-oriented social impact

Although LEAF is in its early stages, the vision is ambitious and long-term.

Pre-Discussion Meeting

Strategic Ideas & Early Initiatives

Several potential initiatives were discussed, including:

• Language circles
• Public conferences
• Podcast-based awareness programs

These ideas reflect LEAF’s intent to create accessible and impactful engagement within communities.

It was emphasized that achieving these goals will require not only passion but also the continued guidance and expertise of advisors.

Collaboration & Community Engagement

Shashank highlighted the importance of:

• Collaboration
• Community connection
• Effective information sharing

This serves as a reminder that strong partnerships and shared efforts are essential for organizational growth.

Advisor Introductions

A key highlight of the meeting was the introduction round, where participants shared their backgrounds and expertise.

The advisory group brings diverse experience across:

• Education
• Government and policy
• Science and research
• Agriculture and environment
• Community engagement
• Public service

This diversity represents a strong foundation for LEAF’s future.

Advisor Committee

Key Takeaway: Practical and Action-Oriented Approach

While the vision of LEAF is broad and inspiring, it was emphasized that the organization must remain:

• Clear
• Practical
• Action-oriented

This stands as one of the most important takeaways from the meeting.

Advisor Letter Signing

An important milestone was achieved through the advisor letter signing and handover, formally establishing the advisory structure.

This step reflects LEAF’s commitment to:

• Accountability
• Structured guidance
• Long-term collaboration

Focus Discussion: North-South Agroecological Forum 2026

A major portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the North-South Agroecological Forum 2026.

As concluded by Obaied, the forum aims to go beyond discussion and focus on fact-based, practical outcomes.

Key Objectives

• Understand real agricultural challenges in Ontario and across Canada
• Identify what is feasible and what is not
• Determine where meaningful contributions can be made

Research-First Approach

As a nonprofit, LEAF will prioritize understanding before action by:

• Identifying existing agricultural challenges
• Studying current policies in Ontario and Canada
• Exploring opportunities for innovation and collaboration

Proposed Outreach

A structured approach will include reaching out to:

• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
• Relevant federal departments
• Agricultural and policy-related organizations

The goal of this outreach is to gather:

• Guidance
• Existing research
• Expert contacts
• Policy insights
• Practical recommendations

Future Direction

Based on these findings, LEAF aims to:

• Develop concrete outcomes
• Design an informed and impactful forum
• Facilitate knowledge exchange between experts from the Global South and Canada

This approach reflects LEAF’s commitment to informed action over assumptions.

Conclusion

Overall, the first advisory meeting successfully:

• Introduced LEAF’s vision and values
• Brought together a diverse and experienced advisory group
• Initiated meaningful discussions on future direction
• Established the foundation for structured collaboration

This marks the beginning of a long-term journey toward creating practical, impactful, and sustainable change.